Ball bound over to grand jury

January 28, 2014

LISBON - Derek Ball, the Salem man accused of stabbing his mother multiple times during an argument on Jan. 12, was bound over to the county grand jury during a hearing on Monday in Columbiana County Municipal Court.

Ball, 24, of Home Circle, is charged with felonious assault. He declined to have a preliminary hearing held. Instead he signed a waiver, allowing the evidence to be presented directly to the grand jury. His bond was continued at $250,000.

Ball appeared in custody with his right hand bandaged. After the attack Ball reportedly fled the Home Circle home, and Salem police had found him about an hour later by following a trail of blood to a neighboring backyard. He was hospitalized with what police described as self-inflicted wounds to both arms.

At the hearing on Monday he admitted he was on painkillers for his arm, but said the medication was not affecting his ability to understand the hearing or what his court-appointed defense attorney, Coleen Hall Dailey, was explaining to him about the hearing.

Dailey told Judge Mark Frost prior to the hearing she had explained the preliminary hearing procedure to Ball, letting him know that both a Salem police officer, Detective Brad Davis, and Ball's own mother would testify against him if the hearing was held. Davis was in the courtroom for the short hearing, but Ball's mother, Josee Wilson, stayed down the hall in the office of Assistant County Prosecutor Don Humphrey Jr.

As part of his bond, should he make bail, Ball has been ordered to stay away from his mother.

Wilson had reported to police her son had stabbed her and was trying to kill her. She was reportedly treated for numerous stab wounds to the head and upper torso.